Mr. Brendan McGrath:

I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for the invitation to attend. I am joined by some colleagues. On my left is Ms Patricia Philbin who has recently moved from the housing function to a recent directorate that we have established to focus on capital delivery. On my right is Mr. Brian Barrett who manages the housing function in addition to community and economic functions. I am joined online by my colleague, Mr. Dermot Mahon, who is the head of unit within the housing unit.

The objective of Galway City Council in implementing the Housing for All policy is to accelerate the delivery of good quality social and affordable housing in an equitable manner, and in appropriate locations, in order to develop sustainable and balanced communities. The table set out in my statement covers the period 2020 to 2022 and shows a total 1,765 housing interventions have been successfully delivered across the board; 500 of them in the build Part V and turnkey arena; there have been 127 acquisitions, leasing or capital assistance scheme, CAS, delivery; and 1,138 rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and housing assistance payment, HAP, delivery.

There have been significant challenges in the past years which have disrupted delivery. The construction sector continues to experience these issues. That is reflected in material price increases, supply chain delays and disruption, and an increasing demand for skilled workers. These elements all have the potential to impact on our delivery. However, we remain committed to our targets and we are working with the Department, and all stakeholders, to ensure the optimum delivery of housing units.

As part of Galway City Council's commitment to Housing for All our housing delivery action plan provides for the delivery of 1,435 social homes, which is about 16% greater than the target that was set for us of 1,235. Our plan also provides 1,005 affordable and cost-rental units that will be delivered in the same period.

The second tabular statement sets out the total estimated delivery covering the period 2022 to 2026 and states an estimated 165 will be delivered through Part V in conjunction with LDA; 403 will be delivered by the local authority and existing landbanks; land that we are currently acquiring will deliver approximately 100; 163 will be delivered through turnkey interventions; 36 by local authority buy and renew; 541 under the approved housing bodies under capital advance leasing facility, CALF; 27 AHBs under CAS; and the total is 1,435. As the members will understand, the involvement of the private sector is an integral part of our delivery, particularly in the context of Part V and turnkey schemes.

The most recent housing needs demand assessment for the city has categorised 20.4% of households as “affordability constrained”. We will work closely, and are working closely, with the AHB and the Land Development Agency in the delivery of affordable and cost-rental units.

In preparation for post the lifecycle of our current housing delivery action plan, we continue to take steps to increase our landbanks to ensure adequate land provision for further delivery action plans.

The provision of age-friendly and universal design homes will also form a significant element of planned delivery in line with the city council's housing action plan for persons with a disability and age-friendly housing objectives. Of the units outlined in the table in our statement, 20% will be universal design homes and a further 15% will be age-friendly homes.

The city council continues to examine vacant sites and derelict sites as a further measure to support housing delivery. While there are limited vacant homes in the city given the high demand in the rental market, the city council has recently acquired three properties under the buy and renew scheme. In an effort to activate other initiatives in the city, the city council recently held a public event to promote the living city, and repair and lease schemes. We currently have six vacant sites on the register and a further ten derelict sites.

Quite a few large derelict sites have been removed from the register in recent times as they were rendered non-derelict and ceased to qualify to continue to be on the register. Recently four derelict sites have been compulsorily provided by the council. The purchase of two of these sites and an adjoining land bank have yielded a 15-unit development under construction on the combined sites. Since 2019, we have collected just over €413,000 in levies under the Derelict Sites Act. All bar €23,000 of what is due has been collected and the balance is being pursued.

The city council is committed to retrofitting existing properties that are returned to it on an annual basis to ensure that when these tenancies are created, sustainable properties are provided to new tenants in existing stock. Bringing our stock up to an energy rating of B2 is resource demanding but an essential task to ensure that we meet climate strategy targets. The average costs for this work are approximately €35,000 per unit.

This is an overview of our ambitions for the coming years. We are expanding and recruiting our delivery team to meet this ambition.